31st October 2021 was the day we finally got to celebrate the wedding of Abbie and Matt.

And what a day! I do not think I have ever been to a wedding that was such an emotional rollercoaster as this one. There were tears of joy and tears of relief that we finally got here to see the new Mr and Mrs Darwell tie knot.

Over the last 12 – 15 months, there have been ups and downs and questions of whether will it happen or will it be cancelled. But just over 12 months on from the original date, it was all systems go. And what a celebration it was.

Admittedly I have a connection with Abbie and Matt as they are both good friends of mine who I love dearly but to be caught up in this flowing tide of emotion was something I have never experienced before.

Seeing Abbies Mum and Dad in tears when they finally got to see their daughter in the wedding dress was something I will never forget.

The one that got everyone was the wonderful poem read out by Harriet, the eldest daughter of Abbie & Matt. In the end, there was not a dry eye in the house. As a photographer, you try to detach yourself from the day's emotions, but even I had a lump in my throat.

Hopefully, I did them proud with the photography as I tried my best to capture the day's emotion.

It is a wedding that stay with me for a long time, and I have no doubt it will stay with everyone who was there to finally see the new Mr and Mrs Darwell.

Good luck for the future, you beautiful people.

Keep the Faith

One of our friends asked me if I could photograph their wedding, and they got a swift thanks but no thanks. When I was focused on my street work, and to be honest, I thought wedding photography was beneath me. Talk about being narrow-minded.

It was a decision that I soon regretted, and I would like to say sorry to my friends for that swift and final no. The wedding went ahead. We all had a great time but looking back, that was probably the push my photography needed. But hey, we live and learn.

Since turning down my friend’s offer, I have gone on to photograph numerous weddings either independently or as a 2nd photographer. So why the change of heart? It became noticeably clear that if I were to progress, I needed to challenge myself and see what I could do.

Once I broke through my own ignorance barriers, I started to open my mind to other photography work offers. All have had there own learning curves, and I have gained some valuable experience on the way.

There is something about the energy of the wedding day that gives me this buzz of excitement. Everything from the bridal prep to the first dance is pure energy, and we all get swept along on this wave of emotion, and I am there in the middle of it, trying my best to stay sharp and keep focused.

My coping mechanism for all this nervous energy is to stay tuned in to my environment, practice some mindfulness, and treat the day as one long street photography walk.

Like I have said before in my previous blogs, why be something I am not when its easier to be me.

In October, I will be shooting the wedding of Abbie and Matt. They are a wonderful couple, and I have known Matt for many years and regard him as a good friend. It will be an absolute pleasure to photograph their wedding, especially after everything that has gone on this year.

The wedding photography industry is a tough nut to crack, and there are thousands of photographers out there all chasing the same clients, breaking into the industry takes time and balls of steel.

Is Wedding Photography something I want to pursue as a full-time business? Maybe in the future, but I am simply happy being the street photographer who enjoys shooting the bride and groom.

Keep the Faith

The Darwell Wedding.

Shooting the Bride and Groom.